Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother’s life. Then she’s captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.
In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She’s amazed she doesn’t end up as his dinner—are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn’t have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.
The Bite Breakdown:
Quick Verdict
Fast, sharp, and unapologetically fun, Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost delivers a powerhouse heroine, crackling enemies to lovers tension, and one of my all time favorite paranormal couples. This book does not play safe, and that is exactly why it works.
At a Glance
- Genre: Urban Fantasy
- Subgenre: Paranormal Romance, Vampire Fiction
- Trope: Enemies to Lovers
- Series: Night Huntress series book 1; Night Universe book 3
- POV: First Person
- Romance Focus: High
- Tone: Sharp, violent, sexy, emotionally charged
The Premise (No Spoilers)
Cat Crawfield has spent her entire life training to kill vampires. Raised by a deeply traumatized mother who believes all vampires are demons, Cat internalizes that mission as duty, identity, and penance for being half vampire herself. She hunts at night, walks away from bodies without regret, and believes she understands exactly how monsters operate.
That certainty cracks wide open when Cat crosses paths with Bones, a centuries old vampire who refuses to fit her rigid worldview. Their first encounters are adversarial, combustible, and laced with mutual distrust, but necessity forces proximity. As Cat is pulled deeper into a supernatural underworld she barely understands, her rigid beliefs start to fracture. The danger escalates fast, the body count rises, and Cat is forced to confront not only what she has been taught, but who benefits from those teachings.
As the opening installment, Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost lays the groundwork for a long running arc across the Night Huntress series. This is Night Huntress series book 1 and Night Universe book 2, though it works perfectly as an entry point with no required prior knowledge.
What Worked
Cat Crawfield is a five star heroine for me, full stop. She is angry, traumatized, stubborn, and razor sharp, but she also evolves in real time. Watching her dismantle her mother’s lifelong conditioning is deeply satisfying, especially because the story does not make that process easy or painless. Her agency drives every major turn, and the consequences are real.
The chemistry between Cat and Bones is electric from the start. Their banter snaps, their power struggle feels balanced, and their attraction never overrides Cat’s autonomy. This is enemies to lovers done right, where trust is earned inch by inch and respect matters as much as desire. The pacing stays tight, the dialogue sings, and the action scenes never lose clarity.
What Didn’t Work (or Might Not)
The violence level is high, especially early on, and the casual brutality may surprise readers expecting a softer paranormal romance. The story does not cushion its action or moral choices, and some scenes land with deliberate sharpness rather than comfort.
Some secondary characters remain underdeveloped in this first installment. The focus stays firmly on Cat and Bones, which I personally love, but readers looking for a richly populated ensemble from page one may find the worldbuilding a bit narrow at first.
Romance and Relationship Dynamics
This is a true enemies to lovers romance built on clashing worldviews, shifting power, and hard earned trust. Bones never infantilizes Cat, and Cat never relinquishes control of her choices, even when the stakes escalate. Their relationship thrives on mutual challenge rather than dominance, and the attraction never replaces communication or consent.
The romance burns hot, but it never overshadows Cat’s personal arc. Love here is catalytic, not corrective.
- Graphic violence
- Parental abuse and coercive upbringing
- Threats from law enforcement
- Moral gray decisions
Who Should Read This
Read this if you love urban fantasy with sharp edges, a morally complex heroine, and intense romantic tension. This is ideal for readers who want enemies to lovers with teeth, strong female agency, and a story that refuses to soften its heroine to make her palatable.
Skip if you prefer cozy paranormal romance, low violence, or instant emotional safety.
Final Verdict
Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost is bold, addictive, and emotionally ferocious. Cat and Bones remain my favorite book couple for a reason, and this opener sets the hook deep with a cliff hanger that demands continuation. I walked away desperate for more and completely invested in Cat’s journey.
Overall Rating: 5 Stars
This book delivers unforgettable chemistry, a top tier heroine, and relentless momentum without sacrificing character growth.
Heroine Strength: 5 Crowns
Cat Crawfield commands the story through grit, growth, and unflinching agency, even when the cost is steep.
Spice Level: 3 Flames
Steamy on page intimacy that enhances tension without overwhelming the plot.
The Cost of Choosing Differently
The turning point in Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost comes when Cat’s lifelong worldview fully collapses under the weight of lived experience. Her mother’s conditioning that all vampires are irredeemable monsters is not only proven false, it is revealed as deeply damaging, both to Cat’s sense of self and her understanding of morality. Letting go of that belief costs Cat her certainty, her isolation, and the illusion that violence alone can keep her safe.
That choice has consequences. By the end of the book, Cat is no longer operating in the shadows. Her actions draw powerful attention, and the terms of survival shift sharply for both her and Bones. In the closing chapters, a critical breakdown in communication corners Cat into a decision driven by protection rather than trust, forcing her to prioritize her mother’s safety and Bones’s survival over her own independence.
The book ends on a sharp, delicious cliffhanger that reframes everything that came before it. Cat steps into a future that is bigger, more dangerous, and far more complicated than the one she thought she wanted, leaving the reader desperate to follow her into the next chapter.
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